It was a normal class outing to a cemetery in Downtown Charleston. We had just been given the guideline to our 'Old Charlestonian' blog post. With the prompt fresh in my mind, I walked around the Bethel United Methodist Church cemetery looking for all the possible grave markers that stuck out to me.
Bethel United Methodist Church is located at 57 Pitt Street in Downtown Charleston, and is distinguished as a National Historic Landmark. The church itself was purchased by the Methodists in 1795 as a burial ground. However, they soon decided to construct a wooden church there called Bethel, and the original building was constructed in 1797-1798. In 1852 construction of the current Bethel Church began, and the existing wooden building was relocated to the rear of the lot., but according to the church's website it's roots started farther back with visits from John Wesley. Bethel United Methodist Church's website said John Wesley was the father of Methodism.
While wandering through the graves there were numerous grave markers that caught my attention. After taking notes about the symbols and the type of grave makers I went home and did some of my own research with our textbook, looking into the meaning of the symbols that glorified death and the deceased.
The first grave that caught my eye was this archaic die in socket. The headstone belongs to C.D Bateman who lived from Aug. 29, 1828 -Sept. 22, 1889 . Using Find a findagrave.com I found out the deceased was named Charles Darby Bateman and was born in Ireland. The symbols were flowers which represented the frality of life and I took an educated guess that the main flower in the center of the bouquet was a daffodil or a lily. Since I wasn't sure I found out the daffodil, also part of the lily family, which indicated grace, beauty and a deep regard.
The second grave I took notes on was Reverend William H. Fleming, D.D. Who lived from Jan. 1,1821 - Apr. 6, 1877. He was born in Charleston, SC and died there too. The inscription on his grave read: Our beloved paster/William H. Fleming, D.D./born/January 1st 1821,/died April 16th 1877/an earnest preacher,/a wise counselor,/a cheerful and pious man/a native of this city/an active member of/the South Carolina Conference/for thirty six years/he began and closed his ministry/at Bethel/called and chosen,/and faithful.
His grave marker was a cradle grave.The top of his grave was fitting for a minister which had symbols that were designed for a congregation to hear a sermon from the pulpit. As well as the wreath at the foot of the cradle which represents victory and redemption. It is normally assoicated with someone who has attained distinction in the arts, literature, athleticsm or the military.
The fourth grave on the left belongs to Lizzie Moore. Who lived from Jun. 6, 1870 -Mar. 10, 1871. This small marker was a headstone that had fallen over. At this time in history it wasn't uncommon to bury your children. She was only 6 months and 4 days when she passed.The symbol on her grave marker was simple branch with some kind of flower inside a circle. Since she was a child I made the assumption that the flower could be a daisy. Since that flower represents the innocence of a child, Jesus the Infant.
The fifth grave I noticed was Charles C Seyle. Who lived from
Jul. 12, 1823 - Feb. 10, 1880. His grave was a fallen headstone. It was interesting to me because I had yet to see a cross wrapped in ivy. The cross was a sign of christanity and ivy represents memory, immortality, or eternal life. There was also an incription beneath the cross that read, " Rock of ages cleft for me". I am not sure what that means though so I did a bit of digging and found out that is was a popular Christian hymn by the Reverend Augustus Montague Toplady written in 1763 and first published in The Gospel Magazine in 1775.
The sixth grave was Elizabeth O. Benoist. It was a ledger grave marker. She lived from Jul. 28, 1787 -Nov. 1, 1804. This grave didn't have any significant symbols but the inscription font was something that drew me tho this grace. The old calligraphic scripture was interesting to me.Especially since the heading read " Sacred" I had to do some research on this grave on findagrave.com and got lucky because I found out that there was a WPA project headstone transcriber, Elizabeth C. Curtis, noting that she was in doubt about year of birth. This was because of the natural weathering.
This experience of resurfacing history in the Bethel United Methodist Church has been a wonderful experience of getting to know some of Charleston's rich past.
Bethel United Methodist Church is located at 57 Pitt Street in Downtown Charleston, and is distinguished as a National Historic Landmark. The church itself was purchased by the Methodists in 1795 as a burial ground. However, they soon decided to construct a wooden church there called Bethel, and the original building was constructed in 1797-1798. In 1852 construction of the current Bethel Church began, and the existing wooden building was relocated to the rear of the lot., but according to the church's website it's roots started farther back with visits from John Wesley. Bethel United Methodist Church's website said John Wesley was the father of Methodism.
While wandering through the graves there were numerous grave markers that caught my attention. After taking notes about the symbols and the type of grave makers I went home and did some of my own research with our textbook, looking into the meaning of the symbols that glorified death and the deceased.
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| C.D Bateman, Die in Socket closer detail |
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| C.D Bateman Die in Socket |
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William H. Fleming, D.D.
Cradle
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His grave marker was a cradle grave.The top of his grave was fitting for a minister which had symbols that were designed for a congregation to hear a sermon from the pulpit. As well as the wreath at the foot of the cradle which represents victory and redemption. It is normally assoicated with someone who has attained distinction in the arts, literature, athleticsm or the military.
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| Rosa Mary die in socket |
The third grave was Rosa Mary (on the right) who lived from Oct. 9, 1835 - Nov. 2,1881. She has a die in socket grave marker that is draped with a cloth which represents sorrow or mourning. Then the extending bouquet of mixed flowers represents which indicated grace, beauty and a deep regard.
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| Lizzie Moore headstone |
The fourth grave on the left belongs to Lizzie Moore. Who lived from Jun. 6, 1870 -Mar. 10, 1871. This small marker was a headstone that had fallen over. At this time in history it wasn't uncommon to bury your children. She was only 6 months and 4 days when she passed.The symbol on her grave marker was simple branch with some kind of flower inside a circle. Since she was a child I made the assumption that the flower could be a daisy. Since that flower represents the innocence of a child, Jesus the Infant.
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Charles C Seyle
Headstone
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| Elizabeth O. Benoist Ledger |
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Julia Prior
Headstone
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I found another child grave that belonged to Julia Prior. It was yet another fallen headstone with the inscription of her age. 10 years / 1 month / and 20 days. She lived from Aug. 22, 1844 -Oct. 12, 1854. The symbols were similar to Lizzie Moore with the circle with rosebuds that face downwards. Roses had uniques reprsentations for women and young girls in the Vicorian Age. The maturation of the rose indicated how old the person was when they passed, normally a child under the age of twelve since it was a closed rosebud.
While this graveyard was smaller than some of the other ones I've visited the history was rich and I had a lot of fun looking for information about the deceased and the symbolic nature of their gravemarkers.
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Francis W. Capers
Lawnmarker
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The eighth marker I found was Francis Withers Capers. His grave marker was different from the other ones, because it was a lawn marker and had its own plot compared to the other graves in the area. He has quite a distinguished life, serving as a College President at the College of Charleston, Civil War Confederate Militia General, and professor. Born Aug. 8, 1819 in Savannah, Georgia -Jan. 11, 1892 where he is resting in Charleston,South Carolina. He has a Latin cross enscribed in a circle which is one of the oldest symbol of Christianity and is know as God's Mark.
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| Joseph W. Ainger Headstone |
One of the last graves I noticed was propped up against the wall of the Bethel United Methodist Church. It belongs to Joseph Wallace Ainger. Who lived from Jan. 24, 1839 - Mar. 28, 1888. The Inscription read, " In memory/of/"Our Brother"/Joseph W. Ainger. The symbol drew me in because it was a cross through a crown. That reprsented immorality, righteousness,victory, and was symbolic of honor or glory of life after death.
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| Elizabeth Moore Headstone |
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| Elizabeth Moore Headstone, closer detail |
The final grave I found was yet again a fallen headstone. The weathered inscription made it difficult to firgure out the details about the deceased. Searching online I found that Elizabeth M.'s full name was Elizabeth Martha Simons Vinro Moore. There was no information on the deceased birth aside from the year 1796 and her death on Oct. 26, 1861. The inscription read inscription " Consort of Rev George W. Moore Aged 65 years / exclaiming all is well, / in the various relation of life., / She was affectionate, / kind and indulgent". I found out that she had 10 children, and some of them were burried in the Bethel United Methodist Churchyard. The symbols of the angel with wings represents rebirth, and urn with a wreath/garland represents the death of an elderly person.
This experience of resurfacing history in the Bethel United Methodist Church has been a wonderful experience of getting to know some of Charleston's rich past.
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